Some of the best food in Dublin isn’t hiding behind velvet hotel curtains or in fancy eircodes. Amy Austin proves that point from what is, quite literally, the edge of a car park and still pulls off one of the most compelling meals in the city.
I went for lunch and it could just be the best lunch in Dublin City Centre.
Quick Facts
Location: Dublin City Centre (yes, basically a car park)
Cuisine: Modern European / produce-led
Best For: Lunch • People watching • Food-first dining
Booking: Strongly recommended – Although lunch was pretty empty when we went.
Why We Went
Lunch. Heard this was a good place to check out with some nice food bang in Dublin. No agenda beyond that. My wife and I wanted something relaxed but a bit more intentional while still wearing jeans a t-shirt.
Amy Austin kept coming up for exactly that reason. We booked and rocked up.
Inside Amy Austin & First Impressions
Let’s not pretend otherwise: it’s as close to being in a car park as you can imagine.
And that’s half the charm, but it isn’t a speakeasy so don’t stress there it is very accessible.
We grabbed seats along the shelf by the big window and promptly got lost in people watching. Friends parking cars. Passers-by clocking plates of squid. One good mate even spotted us mid-park and came in to say hello. It feels alive, informal, and completely unforced. Although I can imagine lunch vs dinner service is very different.
The room is tight, hyper trendy, and confident.
A quick note on service
When we arrived for our booking at opening time, there was no immediate greeting (and only the chefs to be seen) and it took a few minutes for the reservation system to be brought up. I had the confirmation on my phone, but we were asked to give them five minutes – which they did stick to. We were seated shortly after.
It’s a small detail, especially early in the day, but first impressions matter. An easy fix, and one that would sharpen an otherwise very relaxed experience.
The Menu at Amy Austin
The menu is small plates designed to share (feck we love small plates), split cleanly into fish, meat, veg, and sweet. Prices are sensible, portions are generous enough, and the kitchen clearly expects you to order across the menu.
For picky eaters maybe review the menu online first as it is tight with a handful of tasty options in each category but some people could be caught off guard. That being said I loved how each dish was written.
Quick note: look at this little spoon – love it!
Staff explained dishes when needed, left alone when not and food arrived at a nice pace without it being thrown at your (which can be typical for lunch spots).
This is Bib Gourmand logic done properly: quality ingredients, sharp technique, and restraint where it matters.
Another contender for the best lunch in Dublin City Centre would be UNO MAS. Read my review here.
What We Ate at Amy Austin
Octopus Feira
Tender, charred properly, and paired with paprika aioli and potato galette.
Cooked with confidence, octopus only works when you respect time and heat. This did.
Japanese Scallop Crudo
Clean, delicate, and quietly impressive. Dashi broth, wakame, furikake, miso.
Everything balanced.
Asian Trout
Soy honey glaze, spicy mayo, trout roe. Sweetness held in check by texture and heat.
Fermented Grains
Courgette, beans, miso chickpeas and lentils. Earthy, fresh, and deeply satisfying.
Garden Essence
Light, fresh, and clever: green gazpacho, baby courgette, asparagus, nori.
Drinks / Wine / Cocktails at Amy Austin
The drinks list is pretty decent value and good qaulity.
Wine is split between a paper menu and a few light boxes offering wines on tap: by the glass, carafe or bottle showing for the whole space to see, this space is also shared but a handful of house cocktails too. Nice touch which I liked, crips clean and to the point.
Prices are realistic and the offerings are meaningful.
The Bigger Picture
Amy Austin is part of a wider Dublin group that also owns and runs 777, The Butcher Grill, Suertudo, Eleven Dublin. You can see the shared DNA across them all: food that knows its lane, and an understanding that people want to feel relaxed as well as fed in a trendy space.
Amy Austin also holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand, and it shows. This isn’t a star distinction but it highlights that it’s cooking that understands value and good food.
Verdict on Amy Austin
I really liked Amy Austin. The space works, the food plays with some genuinely interesting flavour combinations, and it’s the kind of lunch you keep talking about for a day or two afterwards.
That said, as good as it was, something just missed by a fraction – I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. I wouldn’t rush straight back for lunch, but I’d be genuinely curious to see how it comes together at dinner.
Overall though, Amy Austin is still one of Dublin’s most enjoyable tables.
Frequently Asked Questions about Amy Austin
Modern European, produce-led small plates with strong technique and restrained flavours.
Yes I would say always air on the side of booking here. A few groups and a couple of dates and you would find yourself seatless.
Most plates sit comfortably mid-range, and you can eat very well without it turning into a special-occasion bill.
No. Amy Austin does not have a Michelin star, but it does hold a Michelin Bib Gourmand, which recognises good quality cooking at good value. It’s not a star.
It sits comfortably in between. The room and service are relaxed and informal, but that being said you don’t need to dress up, but be trendy… that’s the vibe.
Yes. It’s better suited to couples or small groups who want good food and atmosphere without formality, rather than big milestone dinners.
MONDAY – THURSDAY 5:00–10:30
FRIDAY – SATURDAY 12:30–11:30
SUNDAY 2:00-10:00
subject to change
Amy Austin is located in Dublin city centre, tucked just off the main streets and right on the corner of the car park.
UNIT 1 DRURY STREET CARPARK, DRURY STREET, DUBLIN 2